There has been a new twist in the murder case involving two men once considered as the St Ann’s most wanted.
One of the men, 25-year-old Kevin Rattigan, alias Jigsy or Teves of Lime Hall, has pleaded not guilty to murder of a 16-year-old. However, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is to decide how they will proceed in the case against his co-accused, Roshad Moss, alias ‘Shut’, who was charged in relation to accessory to murder in the killing of the teen in Lime Hall in 2015.
These new developments occurred in the case was mentioned before high court judge Justice Georgiana Fraser on Wednesday, February 8.
Moss and Rattigan were charged in relation to the May 29, 2015 shooting death of 16-year-old Maurice Cox Jnr.
The teen was allegedly shot by Rattigan at a house in Sandy Grove, Lime Hall in St Ann.
GUNS AND GIRLS
In court last Wednesday, details of what happened the day that Cox Jnr was killed were revealed.
It was heard that on the day in question, Rattigan and other friends, including Cox Jnr were at the home of Roshad Moss in a section of Lime Hall. They were singing songs about guns and girls. Moss was reportedly asleep in another section of the house at the time.
At the time is alleged that Rattigan had an illegal gun in his hand. He was cleaning the gun when it went off and Cox Jnr was shot and wounded. He was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Rattigan had told the police under caution that “officer a piss mi did a piss when the incident happen… Mi neva have no gun.”
However, Rattigan later admitted in court that on the day of Cox Jnr’s shooting, he carried the injured teen to the hospital and left the area and went to town. He said that he lived on the streets at this time.
Rattigan was on the run for over a year after the shooting of Cox Jnr took place.
Rattigan was finally held in a police operation at around 2 a.m. in Ocho Rios on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 as he mingled with people near the town centre.
He was later charged with murder and illegal possession of firearm and made his first court appearance in October of last year in the St Ann Parish Court.
Parish judge Vaughn Facey on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 committed the murder case involving both men to the circuit court, following the committal proceedings hearing into the matter.
CROWN ACCEPTED PLEA
The prosecution, led by assistant director of public prosecutions, Maxine Jackson accepted the guilty plea for manslaughter based on the fact that there were no intentions.
Rattigan, along with Moss had been represented by attorney Everal Webster, but a new attorney, Pearline Bailey was assigned as Rattigan’s attorney prior to his plea.
Bailey asked that the sentencing of her client be delayed and a social enquiry report be prepared.
Justice Georgiana Fraser ordered that Rattigan give his fingerprints to the police.
He was remanded into custody for his sentencing on Tuesday, February 14.
MOSS REMANDED
In the meantime, the prosecution will decide as to how they will proceed against Moss in the case.
Moss was alleged to have cleaned the house of blood in order to conceal evidence according to investigators.
Moss was remanded into custody to appear before the circuit court on February 17.
Police said Rattigan and Moss were members of the ‘After Dark’ gang that has since been dismantled by the St Ann police.
